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Bacteria can become resistant by many means. Antibiotics can affect several different parts of a bacterium such as cell wall synthesis (the penicillins affect this) or protein synthesis and several others. If for example an antibiotic affects cell wall synthesis by inhibiting an enzyme then if the bacteria mutates to overproduce that enzyme then it becomes resistant to that antibiotic at therapeutic concentrations. Or the bacteria could mutate so it does not need that exact enzyme any more and the antibiotic becomes useless. Some of the dangerous pathogens like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have acquired resistance to several antibiotics by selective mutation (otherwise known as evolution). Some bacteria are not so good at mutating or are less dangerous as pathogens so they cannot acquire resistance at all or as quickly.
Other bacteria can produce spores which are very tough capsules which contain all the genes of a bacterial species but are not viable cells, the spores are highly resistant to antibiotics because they are very thick and do not carry out normal cellular functions so they are not affected by antibiotics. Anthrax and Clostridium dificille can form spores.
Some bacteria like Listeria and in some cases Staphylococcus aureus can get inside the human cell like a virus and become resistant to the immune system and also to drugs because it is harder for drugs to get inside a human cell.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoBacteria become resistant to antibiotics when they evolve, or develop mutations, that allow them to survive when under attack by antibiotics. By random chance, a bacterial cell may develop a mutation in its genetic information (DNA or RNA) that allows it to become resistant to antibiotics. When it divides, it passes this mutation on to the daughter cells (its offspring). After some time, the antibiotic will probably kill off all or most of the bacteria without the resistant gene so only those that are resistant remain. Also, bacteria can transfer the resistant gene to other bacterial cells through lateral gene transfer, which involves the formation of a pilus between two bacterial cells through which the genetic information can pass.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoNo they are not resistant. They are vulnerable to antibiotics
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Explain how the excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics poses a health hazards for human population?
Antibiotics are substances which kill or inhibit bacteria. The problem lies in the fact that bacteria tend to have fairly high mutation rates. These mutation rates yield some bacteria which are more resistant to the antibiotics than other bacteria. Since you have used an antibiotic to destroy all other bacteria in a person, the resistant bacteria is free to spread as much as it can, since the antibiotic used won't kill it. If this is the case, then the person would have to get a different, more appropriate antibiotic to kill the bacteria. In some cases, this can be done multiple times, and you end up with a super-bacteria called multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria. As use of antibiotics spread, so do strains of these MAR bacteria, which are much more deadly than their relatives So what can be done? First, use antibiotics less. Studies show that they are over-prescribed. Second, ensure that the proper antibiotic is prescribed. In some cases, an antibiotic which is incorrect for the job to be done is one of the culprits.
What is an example of genes becoming more common in a population?
One example of a gene becoming more common in a population is antibiotic resistance in bacteria. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria some have a mutation that makes them resistant. These bacteria then reproduce and over time the species genetic code changes so that they are antibiotic resistant. This is the reason new vaccines are constantly released. The same basic principle works in pesticide resistance of rats.
What is an explanation of how antibiotic resistance occurs?
Bacterial resistances are developed due to mutations that are passed down from generations of bacteria. Antibiotics generally kill all but the strongest bacteria or bacteria that have resistances to these antibiotics, resulting in only these bacteria reproducing, passing on the antibiotic resistances to future generations. Over time, entire populations of bacteria can develop a resistance to an antibiotic if they are frequently exposed to it. Bacterial resistances are developed due to mutations that are passed down from generations of bacteria. Antibiotics generally kill all but the strongest bacteria or bacteria that have resistances to these antibiotics, resulting in only these bacteria reproducing, passing on the antibiotic resistances to future generations. Over time, entire populations of bacteria can develop a resistance to an antibiotic if they are frequently exposed to it. Bacterial resistances are developed due to mutations that are passed down from generations of bacteria. Antibiotics generally kill all but the strongest bacteria or bacteria that have resistances to these antibiotics, resulting in only these bacteria reproducing, passing on the antibiotic resistances to future generations. Over time, entire populations of bacteria can develop a resistance to an antibiotic if they are frequently exposed to it.
What does it mean when a pathogen developes resistance to an antibiotic?
It means that a virus cannot be killed or controlled with antibiotics. There are thoughts at this time that as viral infections come along they have the ability to mutate. When antibiotics are used to stop the spread of the infection the virus has developed and changed in manner that stops the antibiotic killing it off.
What are heat resistant structures in bacteria?
Bacteria form heat-resistant structures called endosporeswhen under some sort of stress.
What are resistant bacteria?
A property of some bacteria that have been exposed to a particular antibiotic and have "learned" how to survive in its presence.
How do antibiotic resistant bacteria come about?
This term is misleading. The antibiotic "selects" bacteria that are not affected by it. If a person will grow bacteria on a petri dish and add an antibiotic to it, some bacteria may live and grow. This is actually a form of natural selection. The ones that will grow are resistance to the antibiotic. They have some way of not being affected. If a person takes a colony from the plate that has this resistance and grows it on another plate and add the antibiotic, all on the plate will be resistant.
How would you isolate an antibiotic-resistant bacterium?
you can use low concentration of first line antibiotic to the media where will growth antibiotica.perobably most of bacteria will die but some of them will survive.This bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.Its important to inoculate a large amount of bacteria.
Explain how natural selection can give rive to a population of antibiotic resistant bacteria?
Consider the following scenario: An antibiotic is applied to a petri dish of bacteria. The antibiotic will kill of most of the bacteria, but some will remain that are immune to the antibiotic. Therefore, only the immune bacteria will reproduce. Soon, the whole petri dish will be full of bacteria that is immune to the antibiotic. Nature "selects" the immune bacteria for survival.
What are some problems that arise when a bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic?
The antibiotic resistance may be transferred to a virulent pathogenic bacterium. Then we will not be able to cure the infection.
How can one be antibiotic resistant?
People do not develop a resistance to antibiotics, instead bacteria in the body resist the effects of the antibiotic. The bacteria changes somehow and instead of the antibiotic eliminating it, the bacteria survives and continues to cause harm and infection. Some bacteria neutralizes the antibiotic, others fight and flush out the antibiotic, and the others modify where the antibiotic goes.
Why does not finishing an antibiotic contribute to antibiotic resistance?
When you take antibiotics, you start killing the bacteria in your body. The first ones to die are the ones that are mostly easily killed by the drug. Bacteria are very variable, however, so some of the bacteria in your body will be more able to resist the drug. For example, they might have an enzyme that gives them some protection from the drug. If you take all of your prescription, you might eventually overwhelm even these slightly resistant bacteria, killing them. If you stop taking your antibiotics early, however, the more resistant bacteria may survive. When they reproduce, they pass their resistance along to their offspring. As bacteria reproduce, more changes occur in their DNA so slightly resistant bacteria can become even more resistant. So, not finishing your antibiotic increases the chances of letting resistant bacteria survive to reproduce and make resistant offspring, that may become even more resistant with time.
Explain how the excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics poses a health hazards for human population?
Antibiotics are substances which kill or inhibit bacteria. The problem lies in the fact that bacteria tend to have fairly high mutation rates. These mutation rates yield some bacteria which are more resistant to the antibiotics than other bacteria. Since you have used an antibiotic to destroy all other bacteria in a person, the resistant bacteria is free to spread as much as it can, since the antibiotic used won't kill it. If this is the case, then the person would have to get a different, more appropriate antibiotic to kill the bacteria. In some cases, this can be done multiple times, and you end up with a super-bacteria called multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria. As use of antibiotics spread, so do strains of these MAR bacteria, which are much more deadly than their relatives So what can be done? First, use antibiotics less. Studies show that they are over-prescribed. Second, ensure that the proper antibiotic is prescribed. In some cases, an antibiotic which is incorrect for the job to be done is one of the culprits.
How does the growth of antibiotic resistance in bacteria support the theory of evolution in natural selection?
All bacteria, as are all organisms, are variants and some of these variants are resistant to antibiotics. So, a population of bacteria, in their immediate environment, are subjected to an antibiotic and most succumb. So, the resistant, survive the onslaught ( are naturally selected ) and reproduce progeny that are also resistant to the antibiotic. So, allele frequency shifts and evolution occurs die to the adaptive change conferred on the progeny population by natural selection.
What are the reasons for emergence of antibiotic resistance?
Why is the human body resistant to antibiotics? Because synthetic medicines tend to be quite simple, the bacteria that should be affected by the antibiotic are able to build a defense against it.
Why is it that some infections are no longer cured by penicillin?
Penicillin, an antibiotic, kills bacteria. It was the first antibiotic used, and has been around for a long time. As it has been used, the bacteria that it kills have become resistantto it. Part of this has been caused by not totally eradicating the bacteria in the body. The bacteria that survive demonstrate resistance, and continue to multiply -- only, the strain of bacteria that is left is now resistant to penicillin.All antibiotics are susceptible to this effect. That is why, when you are prescribed an antibiotic by a doctor, you will be instructed to take all the antibiotic medication, even if you feel you are well and think you no longer need it. The goal is to kill all the bacteria and prevent the creation of a resistant strain of it.
Are antibiotics being overused?
This is a very complicated question but yes, antibiotics are being used in high frequency in our society and at times, they are prescribed wrongly. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections and the common cold or flu is viral - but doctors write a prescription because they diagnosed it wrong or because the patient is pressuring the doctor for a antibiotic. This leads to bacterial resistance to that specific antibiotic and in some cases, resistance to the entire class of that antibiotic. So if you take amoxicillin wrongly and bacteria becomes resistant, it becomes resistant to amoxicillin and all penicillin class of antibiotics. This is why we are seeing the rise of highly resistant strains of bacteria in this world such as VRSA (Vancomycin resistant) or MRSA (Methicillin resistant) bacterial strains.
